A billboard advertising a beef-tallow sunscreen from Primally Pure has caught widespread attention and raised plenty of eyebrows.
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The ad boldly proclaims "Poison-free SPF with tallow," paired with an image of the product. Right beside it, a photo of a blonde woman is captioned: "The sun isn't poison but your sunscreen is." The provocative messaging instantly sparked a wave of social media reactions.
A user named Peter Hamby shared a photo of the billboard on X (formerly Twitter), joking, "Babes, you're poisoning your face, try this rendered beef fat instead." His tweet has racked up nearly 18,000 views and unleashed a torrent of witty replies.
One user quipped, "For skin as healthy as a McDonald's french fry." Another chimed in with a family anecdote: "My great grandfather (a farmer) slathered his arms with bacon grease, thinking it would help him avoid sunburn. Nope, it just made him extra crispy!"
Others referenced comedian Lewis Black, who once joked about using Crisco as sunscreen because it's cheaper: "when you start to sizzle, you move your a**." The analogy, they said, applies here too.
What's Beef Tallow Sunscreen?
Primally Pure's website claims their SPF products contain no seed oils, fragrance, or harsh chemicals. Instead, they rely on grass-fed tallow, or fat rendered from the kidneys and loins of cows fed a grass-based diet.
The brand markets this as a natural, toxin-free alternative to conventional sunscreens. The concept taps into growing consumer interest in "clean" skincare and the idea that traditional products can contain harmful ingredients.
Despite the buzz, dermatologists urge caution. Late last year, when the trend of slathering animal fat on skin gained popularity for its glow and soothing properties, medical experts voiced skepticism.
"I give it a thumbs down from the scientific and dermatologic perspective," said Dr. Zakia Rahman, clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, in an interview with The New York Times. She warned that tallow could potentially worsen acne or cause irritation.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shereene Idriss addressed the claims directly in an Instagram video. She emphasized the real risk isn't what's inside your sunscreen but the misinformation that keeps people from using it properly.
"The danger is not what's in your sunscreen but the misinformation that's stopping you from using it. Just wear the damn sunscreen," Idriss said.
